Fourth Week of Testimony in Raymond Lee Oyler Arson Murder Trial

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Editor's note: 38-year old Raymond Lee Oyler of Beaumont, California faces five counts of first-degree murder as well as multiple counts of arson. He's also charged with possession of fire producing devices thought to have been used in setting 23 fires between May and October 2006 including the Esperanza Fire that left five U.S. Forest Service firefighters dead. His trial, now entering its fifth week, is being held at the Riverside County California Hall of Justice. If convicted the former auto mechanic could face the death penalty.

FDNNTV's Bill Lorin is following this case.

Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Michael Hestrin concluded the prosecution's presentation much sooner than courtroom observers expected.

On Tuesday attorney, Mark McDonald, began defense testimony by putting Oyler's sister on the stand.

The jury heard Joanna Oyler claim that her brother was at home in the early morning hours of October 26, 2006 when the wildland fire that lead to the deaths of five firefighters was ignited.

She testified that she knew her brother was at his apartment because she called the land-line phone number there several times and he answered.

McDonald then presented phone company records that substantiated her claim. The Defense noted that the timing of those calls was important because the blaze was first reported just after 1 am that day.

Earlier in this trial the prosecuting team presented testimony that Oyler was out of his apartment driving around at that same time including a surveillance videotape showing him on the grounds of a Banning gas station watching flames race up a hill just across the I-10 Freeway.

Based on that, Hestrin challenged Joanna Oyler's claim that her brother was home claiming she was actually at Oyler's apartment at the time baby-sitting his infant daughter and that her brother was out when the fire began in a borrowed car.

The prosecutor continued to question Oyler's sister over the accuracy of her statements.

In a surprise announcement on Thursday, Superior Court Judge W. Charles Morgan, who is hearing the Oyler trial, instructed attorneys for both sides to start preparing final arguments for delivery this week, maybe as early as Wednesday.

The judge said he could be in a position to give jury members their pre-deliberation instructions on that day as well.

The jury was off on Friday and will return Monday.